Chapter 76
Preston slumped into a chair outside the operating room, the desperate pleas of Hugh and his family still echoing in his mind. Yet, all he felt was emptiness.
Closing his eyes, he could not shake the image of Regina crying out in pain.
Gripping his phone ughtly, he muttered. “Will she survive?”
The group glanced at him, frowning
Preston raked his hands through his hair, struggling to breath through his guilt. “What if she doesn’t make it?”
Liam remained calm. You need to trust Stephen. He’s the world’s best cybernetic surgeon. As long as she’s alive, even by a thread, he’ll save her- even if it means turning her into a machine.”
The tension eased a little. Stephen’s reputation for unmatched skill was a small comfort for them.
Still restless, Preston stared at Regina’s ID photo in the Humanity APP. I don’t even have a real picture of her. I don’t have anything to look at when I miss her.
The room
grew quiet with a heavy sadness
Xavier finally broke the silence. “How about I pull out some of her old videos? It might help take the edge off.”
Everyone perked up, looking at him expectantly.
His cybernetic eyes glowed blue as he linked to his home’s holographic system: “Using her ID photo, I’ll stimulate her appearance across different ages and scan for related videos. If anything exists in the cloud, I’ll find it
“or
course. the premise is that someone had recorded and saved videos related to her in the cloud”
Even if Regina grew up in the slums, there should be videos.
As expected, more than ten videos were found.
“Got some” Xavier said with a smirk. “Let’s start with her childhood.”
Preston’s eyes light up with expectant, he stared at Xavier’s phone excitedly.
The first video featured a birthday party in a slum’s kindergarten.
A kid wearing a paper birthday hat beamed as everyone sang to him,
The teacher cheerfully cut the cake. “Now, let’s have the birthday boy share the ake with everyone!”
The boy tugged on his sleeve, his voice shrill with disdain. “Miss, I’m not giving any to Rekina She’s dirty and stinky. My mom said I shouldn’t!”
The teacher’s smile froze as her gaze shifted to Regina.
Little Regina stood to the side, her matted hair framing a face that had been hopeful moments before. Her clothes, stained and unwashed, hung all her tiny frame. Her expression crumpled, and she lowered her head, hiding her sadness.
The teacher forced a laugh. That’s okay. I’ll share mine with Regina. I couldn’t finish it myself anyway
But young Regina shook her head, tugging her grimy shin. “No, thank you, miss. I don’t like cake.”
Xavier abruptly stopped the video, feeling his chest tight. “Next.”
He switched to the next video.
The second dip opened with a woman’s sharp voice, full of righteous anger.
“What kind of
parents are you!
are you Look at what you’ve done to your child?”
The camera panned to Regina, no older than four. Her hair was brittle and messy, her eyes red and swollen from crying. Her small body, clad in a dirty tank top, was covered in bruises,
She stood
1/2
trembling, visibly anxious under the camera’s focus.
1131 AM D
Chapter 76
She clung daughter.”
the woman’s sleeve, desperation in her voice. “Madam, can you take me home with you! I’ll be good. I can do chores. I can be your
A rough hand yanked her away. “You little brat! Picking a random mom now? Wait till we get home; Till show you!”
Regina’s quiet resolve broke. She clawed at the woman’s arm, sobbing and begging. “Madam, I don’t want to go home! Please, help me!
୦